1. Investigating Diversity Part 2
Genetic diversity within, or between species, can be made by comparing:
•• the base sequence of DNA
•• the base sequence of mRNA
•• the amino acid sequence of the proteins encoded by DNA and mRNA.
Students should be able to:
•• interpret data relating to similarities and differences in the base sequences of DNA and in the amino acid sequences of proteins to suggest relationships between different organisms within a species and between species
•• appreciate that gene technology has caused a change in the methods of investigating genetic diversity; inferring DNA differences from measurable or observable characteristics has been replaced by direct investigation of DNA sequences.

2. Genetic diversity can be measured by:
Outcomes:
Suggest how genetic diversity can be analysed in a population
Interpret similarities in bases sequences of DNA, mRNA and amino acid sequence to suggest relationships between and in species.
Discuss how gene technology has caused a change in methods of investigating diversity.
Measuring and comparing the __________ of _____________ characteristics.
How else? 3 other ways? Think about genetics.
By comparing the base sequences of DNA (G______)
By comparing the base sequences of RNA
By comparing the amino acid of proteins produced (P______)

3. General Rules of thumb Outcomes:
Suggest how genetic diversity can be analysed in a population
Interpret similarities in bases sequences of DNA, mRNA and amino acid sequence to suggest relationships between and in species.
Discuss how gene technology has caused a change in methods of investigating diversity.

4. The role of Gene technology
Outcomes:
Suggest how genetic diversity can be analysed in a population
Interpret similarities in bases sequences of DNA, mRNA and amino acid sequence to suggest relationships between and in species.
Discuss how gene technology has caused a change in methods of investigating diversity.
Development of DNA sequencing technologies has made dramatic changes in how genetic diversity is investigated.
Before: Use of comparing the frequency of characteristics in a population to infer differences in DNA.
Now: direct DNA sequencing of organisms and comparing their DNA base sequences for similarities/differences.
Benefits of this:
More accurate judgements of differences in DNA Less disagreement between scientists on genetic diversity
Ability to distinguish whether a difference in characteristic is actually from DNA or caused by environmental variation.
Ability to quantify the difference/similarities of organisms.